Thursday, May 10, 2012

Yes, he is pretty much this happy most of the time. We have a great kid, y'all. Love his sweet, joyful and loving personality so much! Thankful for every minute with my little family and the opportunity to watch this little guy grow. He is a delight!

We only pray that we are giving him all the love, adventures and {even} structure and discipline he needs to become the incredible person we believe he can be. We know we don't have all the answers, but we're doing the best we can. It is easy with a boy like John Reynolds! I think that Jason and I would both tell you that he teaches us far more than we teach him! He is a world of fun and we love him so!

Monday, May 07, 2012

"Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of your universe...Each day enrapture me with your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share in the wonder of it all." - Abraham Joshua Heschel

I may not have put pen to paper to write down the blessings of the last few days, but there have been plenty of them. Numbered or not, I experienced them. From pizza and a movie with my husband to quality time outside with my boys and time with friends, it was a wonderful weekend. Not to mention great conversations with people and the promise of a great week ahead! I find myself truly blessed, my vision much clearer and ready to see the blessings. I am praying this week for the "grace of wonder," the eyes and ears to notice the "marvelous things without number" that surround me each day. I think I'll pray that for you, too!

Thursday, May 03, 2012

"I want to learn to live each moment and be grateful for what it brings, asking no more." - Gloria Gaither

I came across this thought today and felt a resounding "Yes!" rise up within me. This is it. This is what I long for in my life. I have moments like this, but I want life to be like this. I want to learn to let go. Live more, stress less. Love life instead of being overwhelmed by it. I just finished texting my husband about this very thing. I caught him off guard, questioning our (my?) proneness for feeling stressed and stretched much of the time. I feel this need to relax more...but I can't seem to make myself do it enough to make a real difference in my demeanor, countenance and overall outlook on each day (life). I fixate on how it "should" be instead of focusing on what is real.

And what is real is good, y'all. I have two incredible blessings right inside my house. Others that are scattered all over Arkansas and down in South Alabama. Not to mention some that live right down the street and a few miles away. And countless many others scattered across the United States and even around the world. I am truly a blessed woman. It is time I live that way more. I experience it some, but it I long to feel it so much more in my life. And this yearning in me...well, I know that it means it is possible. There are people who live that way much more than I do. It is an attainable goal, I believe.

After my random texts, the hubs got a little concerned and called me. He listened and agreed. He said he thought he could help me if I'd let him. I think I will.

We have this running joke at our house. I am always telling Jason that I "used to be uptight." He laughs. He laughs, y'all. I tell him it is the truth. He laughs some more. Slightly irritated, I always feel the need to explain to him that while I might still be a little (a lot?) uptight, I am not near as much so as I used to be. Those of you who have known me for a decade or two can attest to that. Seminary (ironically?) helped with that a lot. I became more myself during those years because I learned to let go a little. It seems I have all but stopped the letting go and so I find myself stressed and stretched and entirely too serious and intense much of the time.

So...with my husband's help (and God's, of course), I'm going to learn to let go again. Bear with me on this journey. And be nice...it will take some time.